Volcanic hazard in a slave society: the 1812 eruption of Mount Soufrière in St Vincent

The 1902–3 eruptions of the Soufrière, St Vincent: Impacts, relief and response

“…Disproportionate claims for compensation were received from estates within the 'Charlotte' parish that covers the north and north-west portions of the island; emphasising the susceptibility of populations here to both hydro-meteorological and geophysical hazards (Robertson 1995;Boruff and Cutter, 2007;Smith, 2011). Sugar production across the island fell by 75% that year, but recovery was rapid, and sugar exports recovered within two growing seasons (Smith, 2012).…”

“…Six volcanoes along the arc have erupted since 1900; most recently the Soufrière Hills Volcano on Montserrat (Wadge et al, 2014). Magmas that have erupted from the A C C E P T E D M A N U S C R I P T 7 JMW Turner, based on the sketches of the event by a local landowner and diarist, Hugh Perry Keane (Smith, 2011; see also Pyle, 2017).…”

“…Fifty six deaths were reported (Foster Huggins, 1902), although there are no details known of when, or how, these occurred. As Flett (1903) noted, andSmith (2011) amplified, some of the contemporary reports of the immediate economic consequences of the eruption were exaggerated.…”

“…They were duly compensated, and within five years output of sugar and rum from the Windward plantations had doubled (Smith, 2011). Many estates incurred debts to facilitate the reconstruction that later contributed to their decline and abandonment Spinelli, 1973).…”

“…Many estates incurred debts to facilitate the reconstruction that later contributed to their decline and abandonment Spinelli, 1973). Smith (2011) estimates that the 1812 eruption led to a fall in output of 14% of GDP, and infrastructure damage at 7% of all of the physical capital invested in sugar estates.…”